Malignant (**) – Cut out the cancer
Malignant is a film where director, James Wan, takes a step back from the big budget and tries to reconnect with the genre of films that pushed him into the big budget stratosphere.
Don’t Breathe 2 (**) until part 3
If you like Lange, you will more than likely appreciate some elements of the film. It’s understandable that he’d go through another round of killing for the chance to spout a not-quite Shakespearian sonnet towards the climax.
Old (**) – It’s better to burn out…
There are no performances that will resonate, as the constantly shifting variables give everyone a form of schizophrenia to the point of mild annoyance.
Flashback (**) Handle your High
There is entirely too much flashing, and not enough here for which to back.
Infinite (**) retread
Wahlberg’s good a pumping out product. Sometimes we get The Italian Job, other times we get Contraband. This is closer to the latter.
Phoning it Long Distance: Bruce Willis’ VOD / Redbox Era
The older he gets, the more it feels like he gave up trying long ago. If this slate of films is considered art of any kind, then I don’t know crap about film. I only know these films qualify as crap.
The Unholy (**) – The usual dog and pony show
As the would be prophet, Alice, Cricket Brown is possibly the best thing about the film.
Monster Hunter (**) New Old Video Game Movie
One does not simply rent a movie titled Monster Hunter and expect Bill Shakespeare.
Twilight (**) Not THAT one – is a movie out of time
It is sad, but time waits for no one.
Netflix’ The Midnight Sky (**) is almost hopeless
The 7th directorial effort by George Clooney is a beautiful, boring, and predictable story that skips the exciting parts, instead focusing on dread, misery and fading hope in the light of humanity. It is the type of film designed to be called brave, but is more an exercise of muscles that are best left unflexed.
Criterion: The Hills Have Eyes (**) clunking through legends
The film would be better if there were more characters like the dog The Beast. At least that character knows when to stay quiet and when to sneak up behind an idiot savage and push him off of a high place.
Criterion: The Crazies (**) is a rough draft for a better film
There are occasional good moments here and there, but overall, the skill is somewhat below local theater troupe making an even lower budget version of Home for Purim.
Criterion Ganja & Hess (**) has history on its side
Fair or not, the film that results is worth one time through, and more if you can bear it. I had to stop on my second trip.
Friday the 13th Chronology continued: The expensive trash +2 good fan films
The best thing about the Never Hike… series is the way it takes its time getting to actual kills. It has confidence and is in no hurry.
Criterion: Death Line / Raw Meat (**) because Brando couldn’t make it
This film will be more for those curious about the process of how we got from blood going down the drain in black and white in Pscyho to where film in the early ’80’s is so gross.
3 Turns of the Screw: The Nightcomers, The Turning and Netflix’ The Haunting of Bly Manor
Of the three James’ inspired works, The Haunting of Bly Manor is the one that is truly inspired, even if it’s not as scary as we’d hope.
